There are not many teenagers who can claim to be amongst the most decorated footballers around, but then Harrow's Rebecca Spencer does not play for just any old team.

There are not many teenagers who can claim to be amongst the most decorated footballers around, but then Harrow's Rebecca Spencer does not play for just any old team.

The 17-year-old is only in her third season with the all-conquering Arsenal Ladies senior squad but has a trophy cabinet fit to burst.

Vic Akers's team have retained the FA Women's Premier League for the past five seasons, having won it a total of 10 times and are on course to win an 11th; they have won the FA Women's Cup the last three seasons, adding to their six previous triumphs; the Women's League Cup has come to their Meadow Park base in Boreham Wood nine times, while they completed a remarkable quadruple triumph in the 2006/07 season, winning all domestic trophies and the UEFA Women's Cup.

And while Spencer has yet to play a prominent role for the Gunners, it is easy to see why she is so optimistic about her footballing future. The 17-year-old kept goal for England Ladies at the U20s Women's World Cup in Chile last month, where Mo Marley's blossoming side reached the quarter finals before losing 3-0 to eventual winners, USA.

It marked a rapid rise through the ranks for the Northwick Park-born youngster, who began her career at Wat-ford before joining Arsenal's Centre of Excellence in 2001.

Having represented England at U15 level, her performances were so good that she was fast-tracked into the U19 and U20 squads. She has also been selected for the 2007 Euros and was England's preferred shot stopper at the Uefa Women's Under-19 Championship in France.

Now Spencer, who lives in Northolt Road, wants to depose Ireland's Emma Byrne as Arsenal Ladies'first choice goal-keeper and help England's senior women team to World Cup glory in 2011.

Her experience in Chile has certainly done her chances no harm at all. Having kept a clean sheet in the U20s 2-0 win over the hosts nation in front of more than 15,000 fans, Spencer conceded just two goals in the 1-1 Group A draws with Nigeria and New Zealand before the USA turned on the style in the last eight, the furthest England had gone in this age category of the tournament.

"It was a great experience," said Spencer. "The people out there were really friendly and we had quite a lot of support behind us. We were always favourites to go through the group stage but probably made harder work of it than we should have done.

"We played the hosts in the first game and we could not hear one another on the pitch because of how loud the crowd were. It was quite scary at first but we ended up coming out on top.

"I'm pleased with the way things worked out. I was at fault for the New Zealand goal but other than that was quite happy with my performances."

Spencer, who is studying fitness coaching at Oaklands College in St Albans, is not fazed by her success so far, but insists she still has plenty to do

if she wants to become the long term custodian of both her club and country.

"I was in the first team at Arsenal aged 14 when I first got called up for England," she added. "I was a bit shy and everything seemed quite intimidating. I lacked a little bit of confidence and wasn't entirely sure what I was doing there."

However, success breeds confidence and Spencer's infectious enthusiasm, not to mention her undoubted talent, should help fulfil her dreams.

"I just want to play as many games for Arsenal as possible, but to do that I have to prove myself in other ways. I always try and prove a point when I am away with England and show that even if I am not playing regularly for my club I can still perform at a higher level.

"I'm hoping to eventually be Arsenal number one this year or the year after. I've got two more years left in the England U19s and want to win the Euros and hopefully the World Cup."